Hey Jude [p]

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"That isn't true. At least you'd be real." He looked around before getting to his paws. It was getting kind of late, and he figured he'd head back to his den soon.

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"True, but if I'm real I run the risk of getting clse to someone." she responded. She sighed as she looked up. It was getting late and she'd probably head back soon too.

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"Why would that be a bad thing?" 'I'm sure she's got trust issues. Not the first time I've met someone like this...' "It's good to have a close ally, especially in DeathClan."

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"For more reasons than I can count. Partailly though, because if you trust another cat, even if they are trustworthy, they could easily be forced to catch you off guard." she said, jaw set.

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"Yes, but I don't think someone would stick with you for so long only to betray you in the end." Jude shrugged. "I just think it'd be better to have a few allies you can trust rather than many acquaintances that could easily turn on you." He sighed, not really sure if this was reaching Serenity or not. 'I feel like I've had this conversation before.'

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"Have as many friends as you want. Even if they are true friends and would never do anything to hurt you... Let's just say they'd kill you without a second thought in the right cercimstances. And those are easy to come by."

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"They wouldn't be a friend if they'd kill you without a second thought." Jude frowned some more. "I don't know what your idea of friendship is, but I think you've got it wrong."

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Serenity shook her head. "Mentally. That is much worse." she muttered. "Blood runs thicker than water. If you can't trust your own flesh and blood, you can't trust others." she added, voice full of venom. "A-" she started, but cut herself off with a sharp bite of her lip. She was sharing more than she would with most cats, and she didn't like that. She pinched her eyes closed for a moment and drew a quick breath. "It's just plain stupid to leave your heart in the open."

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Jude sighed. "That isn't true..." He trailed off, trying to think of ways to convince her. 'She's so stubborn.' "I think it's the other way around. Friends are others that you hang around until you're able to trust them. You're expected to trust your kin right away because you were thrown into a family. That's what really doesn't make sense." His tail started thumping against the ground behind him. "Whatever."

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Serenity shook her head in disagreement, making sure to keep from raising her voice as she responded. "Well, the part about family is true, but the part about my family makes it not apply. We were stuck like glue and yet I have found that I shouldn't have laid my trust in them. And 'hanging' around cat isn't how I work." she said, thinking back to the red cat in the forest had shown some sense around a new cat. Although, she had been watching Serenty which may not have been the best desision. She glanced at Jude with an expression that was a mix of resentment, curiosity, disbelief, guilt, and something to the point of sadness. Because she knew what she had done. She had walked out on her friends after they walked out on her rather than listening to what they had to say. She shook her head, after what they had done... No explination would be good enough. She flicked her ear, wishing that she could change the subject, but she had a feeling she couldn't.

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"Orrr maybe you just have bad judgement and your family wasn't as tight-knit as you thought." He replied, not really believing her. He couldn't think of a reason as to why cats so close would turn against each other. He blinked in confusion when she looked at him. 'What's that face for?'

Ready for her to shoot a reply back, the tabby took a seat. He could tell this would either end abruptly or turn into a long discussion. Or argument, rather. "You don't have to listen to me, but I think you'll regret not making friends. Just because your family has wronged you doesn't mean that others will."

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Serenity sat down as well, thinking for a moment. She shook her head. "I thought that too at first somewhere deep inside. I've also had other friends. They flat out betrayed me." she said, a growl in her voice at the memory. "You might have different luck than me, but I know that I can't have any friends or they'll betray me." she said with a sad smile.

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'If they betrayed you then they were never your friends.' He thought in irritation, though didn't voice this because he was afraid of making her angry. It sounded like she was already at the point of growling. He was quiet when she finished, trying to find the right words to say, though nothing was coming to mind. 'She can't have any friends? I'll show her!' He thought in determination, now looking back at her with a small smile. "I'd love to be your friend, Serenity, if you'd let me."

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Serenity paused for a moment, slightly taken aback. She wasn't sure what to say because while she'd like to be better at protecting herself, she had never sworn off friendship altogether, and Jude seemed like he would make a good friend. She still wasn't quite sure though. She had only known Jude for a little and wasn't wanting to say yes at the time. So, not wanting to say yes or no she surprised herself by responding at all. "Yeah, maybe that could work out."

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"Awesome." He stood up with a stretch, taking a look at the sky. He didn't realize how late it was. 'I should get going.' He looked back at Serenity. "I'm thinking of heading back. Maybe I'll see you again sometime."